SERMON XIV.

THE VALLEY OF DECISION.

JOEL iii. 14.-Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

A SENSE of ultimate personal responsibility is inseparable from the mind of man. There is a conscious ness within him, which announces the existence of a God who judgeth in the earth, and warns him that the great object of his life must be, to prepare to meet him in a final account. The holy Scriptures unite in the same solemn testimony, enlarge and confirm it with most awakening and important descriptions, and call upon men to be ready for the day of God's coming to judge the earth.

In the passage which I have selected for my present text, there is a striking exhibition of this final judgment of man, the great day of his account with God. The Lord calls upon the heathen to assemble themselves together before him, and for his mighty ones to come down in attendance upon him. "Let the heathen be wakened and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there will I sit to judge all the

heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe; come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision." The harvest for man is the close of his probation for eternity. And when this harvest is ripe, either for glory, or for ruin, God puts in his sickle, and by his angels, reaps both wheat and tares, for their final destination. "The valley of Jehoshaphat," in which this vast congregation of accountable beings is supposed to be collected, means, "the valley of the judgment of the Lord." Here in the valley of his judgment, in the time and manner of his own appointment, will the Lord collect the beings whom he hath formed, and proclaim to all, the final condition and character of each. All nations shall be gathered before him. The heavens and the earth shall be moved at his presence. But the Lord will be the hope and strength of his people.

In its practical application to man, however, the day of final judgment makes no change in his real character. It simply proclaims that which was before the fact. It announces the issue of human conduct. It declares the sentence which has been long determined. It delivers over every accountable being finally to his own place. Man's real time of probation is in the present life. Here, is the valley of decision, and the only valley of decision for eternity. As the tree falleth, so must it lie. No man's everlasting condition will be rendered more sure in the day of judgment than it is in the hour of death. Whether he leaves the present world as a child, or as an enemy to God, as such he remains forever. He

that is then holy, is holy still, and he that is then unjust, is eternally unjust still.

I would call your attention to a view of this VALLEY OF DECISION, in the humble hope, that God may be pleased to make our consideration of this subject, a means of profit to us all, and of preparation for its issue. In remarking upon the subject, I would first consider,

I. What may be understood as the valley of decision for man. The question is answered generally, that the whole life of man upon the earth is given to him as his time of education for an eternal state of being; and every question which is connected with his eternity, is to be decided by him here upon the earth. While this day of privileges lasts, man must accomplish the whole work of safety for his soul, when the night cometh at its close, no man can work. Within its limits every thing must be done, which is necessary to be done, that he may appear before God in peace.

But while we speak of questions to be decided here, there is actually but a single question proposed from God to man. As a wandering, rebellious creature, he is invited and commanded, to come back in the spirit and act of reconciliation unto God. He is called upon to submit himself to the will of his Creator, and to find all his comfort and enjoyment in his favour. In the full provisions of the Gospel, the means of entire and eternal union with God, are offered to his acceptance and the only question for him to decide, is, whether he will accept them. Will he lay hold of the hope which is set before him, and with a new heart, and a right spirit, glorify him who hath

bought him with a price? This is the question proposed to man, in all the messages of the Gospel, and urged upon his consideration, by all the acts of divine Providence in his behalf, and all the operations of the Spirit of God upon his mind and heart. This practical question he cannot leave undecided. It meets him face to face, day by day; and it must be met by him, and settled by him for himself, and that for eternity.

This is the great question of human life, and it is generally determined by man, long before the last hours of his life have come. Many who are yet living on the earth, have settled this question finally for themselves, and have, therefore, actually passed out of the valley of decision, though they have not passed out of the present state of being. Some have come upon the Lord's side; have thankfully accepted the privileges of the Gospel; have become converted in their hearts unto God; and they are the Lord's forever. They are no longer hesitating whom they shall serve. Their hearts have been fixed, in the determination to serve the Lord. They have chosen that good part which shall never be taken away from them. For them every thing is decided for eternity. He who hath plucked their feet out of the net, will keep their feet from falling, and their eyes from tears, and they shall walk before him in the land of the living. He will guide them by his counsel and receive them to his glory. The final day of the Lord for them, will not alter, but announce their character. It will give them the crown of righteousness which fadeth not away, which the Lord, the righteous Judge hath reserved for all who love his appearing. And

happy in that day will be found the people whose God is the Lord.

Others yet upon the earth have also decided this great question, but in another way. They have chosen death rather than life. They have finally refused the invitations of the Lord. They have turned their hearts away from him; rejected all his mercies; and driven from them the renewing influences of his Holy Spirit. From them too, the Saviour has departed, and withdrawn from them the quickening power of his grace. They are left alone. The providences of God do not affect them. The ministers and messages of God do not influence them. They are barren and unfruitful in every thing which God can look upon with favour and acceptance. Jesus has called, and they have refused; he has stretched out his hands, and they have not regarded it. They have distinctly declared that they will not come unto him for life. Some have decided this great question proposed to their souls, in entire infidelity. They have denied even the authority by which they are called back to exercise repentance towards God. Some have sunk down into confirmed worldliness of character, and have thrown away all sensibility to unseen and eternal things. Some have immersed themselves in unfeeling vice, and have broken and cast away all the cords of grace and purity. Some in mere thoughtless giddiness, mock at all the solemn messages of the Most High. Now all these have, in reality, passed out of the valley of decision. There is no question before them to be settled. Their eternity has been fixed, and fixed by their own choice and determination. Death will make no change with